Recently viewed items display area

ABSTRACT

A most recently viewed item is displayed in a display element, which is positioned next to at least one other element on a web page. The display element is expanded so that the element covers the at least one other element on the web page and so that at least one other recently viewed item appears in the display element. The display element is contracted so that only the most recently viewed item appears in the display element and so that the at least one other element on the web page is visible.

BACKGROUND

On retail websites, online customers are able to shop for products.Typically, these websites include one or more browsing pages that show alarge number of products in a small space to make it easier forcustomers to browse through the available inventory. To allow for alarge number of products to be displayed, a limited amount ofinformation is provided for each product on the browsing pages.

To obtain more information about a particular product, the user mayselect the product from the browsing page. This will cause a new webpageto be displayed that shows more details about the selected product. Whena user chooses to view the details of a particular product, many retailsystems consider that the customer has viewed the item. If the customerdoes not select the item to view its details, the system cannot be surethat the user has seen the item. As a result, even though the item maybe displayed on a page with a number of other items, the retail systemcannot determine that the user has actually viewed the item until theyselect the item.

On some retail websites, customers can view the items they have recentlyviewed. These websites keep a record of the items that have been viewedin detail and provide the list to the customer when requested.

The discussion above is merely provided for general backgroundinformation and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining thescope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is notlimited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted inthe background.

SUMMARY

A most recently viewed item is displayed in a display element, which ispositioned next to at least one other element on a web page. The displayelement is expanded so that the element covers the at least one otherelement on the web page and so that at least one other recently vieweditem appears in the display element. The display element is contractedso that only the most recently viewed item appears in the displayelement and so that the at least one other element on the web page isvisible.

In a further embodiment, a processor generates a graphical viewed-itemselement, with an image of a last-viewed item within the viewed-itemselement. An input is received to enlarge the viewed-items element. Inresponse to the input, a graphical enlarged viewed-items element isgenerated, wherein the image of the last-viewed item and an image of apenultimate viewed item are displayed within the enlarged viewed-itemselement.

In another embodiment, a plurality of recently viewed products isdisplayed in a first-sized container using a processor and a display. Aninput indicating that the first-sized displayed container should becollapsed is received. In response to the input, the size of thecontainer is automatically reduced to form a collapsed container so thatonly a most recently viewed product appears in the collapsed container.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is view of a display showing a collapsed recently viewed itemscontainer in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram of a method in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view of a display showing an enlarged recently viewed itemscontainer in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 4 is view of a display showing a collapsed recently viewed itemscontainer in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a view of a display showing a maximally enlarged recentlyviewed items container in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a view of a display showing a maximally enlarged recentlyviewed items container in accordance with one embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of a server-client environment.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of a computing device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the embodiments discussed below, a recently viewed items container isprovided that can be in either an expanded state or a collapsed state.In the collapsed state, the recently viewed items container shows onlythe most recently viewed item. In the expanded state, the recentlyviewed items container expands to show a number of recently vieweditems. In accordance with one embodiment, the recently viewed itemscontainer expands just enough to show all of the recently viewed items.When the recently viewed items container has expanded to its maximumamount and there are more recently viewed items than can fit in theexpanded container, carousel controls are added to the container toallow a user to rotate through the items in the recently viewed itemslist. Even after such carousel movement, if the user selects to collapsethe recently viewed items container, the most recently viewed itemappears once again in the collapsed recently viewed items container.

FIG. 1 provides an example of graphical images displayed in accordancewith one embodiment. In FIG. 1, a display 100 shows a recently vieweditems container 102 and neighboring text columns 104, 106, 108, 110 and111. Display 100 also shows content 112, which is above recently vieweditems container 102.

Recently viewed items container 102, alternatively referred to as awindow, a graphical element, a first-sized displayed container and aviewed-items element, 102 includes “recently viewed items” text 114,expand icon 116, an image 118 of a most-recently viewed item and text120 that describes the most-recently viewed item. Container 102 is shownto have a visible top border 122 and visible right side edge/end 126.However, in accordance with other embodiments, the visible border mayalso be present on the bottom and left side edge of container 102.Container 102 has a height 150 and a width 152.

Expansion icon 116 may be selected by positioning a cursor overexpansion icon 116 and pressing a selection button or by tapping on icon116 directly when using a touch screen. Under most embodiments, if thereis only one recently viewed item, expansion icon 116 is not displayedand it is not possible to expand container 102.

FIG. 2 provides a flow diagram of a method of expanding and contractingcontainer 102 of FIG. 1. In step 200 of FIG. 2, the most recently vieweditem is displayed in a collapsed container as shown in FIG. 1. Inaccordance with some embodiments, recently viewed items comprise itemsthat have been selected by a customer resulting in the presentation ofdetailed information about the selected item. In other embodiments, therecently viewed items can include any item that the user has shown moreof an interest in than other items. Note that recently viewed itemstypically do not include all items that have been presented on thedisplay since there is no way to confirm that a user has actually viewedan item unless the user interacts in some way with the item.

At step 202, a processor waits to receive an input indicating thatexpansion icon 116 has been selected. At step 204, the processordetermines if the number of recently viewed items is greater than amaximum number of recently viewed items that can be displayed in anexpanded container.

If the number of recently viewed items is not greater than the maximumnumber of items that can be displayed, container 102 is expanded at step206 to view all recently viewed items. In particular, container 102 isexpanded to different sizes depending on the number of recently vieweditems.

FIG. 3 shows a graphical image 300 with an example of an expandedcontainer 302, also referred to as an expanded window, an expandedgraphical element, a second-sized displayed container and an enlargedviewed-items element, that is displayed after a user has selectedexpansion icon 116 of FIG. 1. Expanded container 302 includes “recentlyviewed items” text 114, image 118 of a most-recently viewed item andtext 120 of the most-recently viewed item in the same manner as shown incontainer 102 of FIG. 1. In addition, container 302 includes image 318and text 320 of a penultimate viewed item (the item viewed before themost-recently viewed item) and image 322 and text 324 of the item viewedbefore the penultimate viewed item. Container 302 also includes acollapse or close icon 316, shown as an X in FIG. 3, top border 340 andright side edge/end 126. In accordance with some embodiments, top border340 may not be visible. Container 302 has a same height 150 as container102 but has a larger width 352 than width 152 of container 102. Due toits increased width 352, container 302 completely obscures the text ofcolumn 104 and partially obscures the text of column 106. As such, theexpansion of container 302 is shown to have occurred over the top of thetext of column 104 and the text of column 106.

Under some embodiments, the expansion of container 102 into an expandedcontainer that shows all of the recently viewed items involves movingright edge/end 126 to different positions depending on the number ofrecently viewed items. Thus, as shown in FIG. 3, right end 126 is movedto position 328 when there are three recently viewed items. When thereare four recently viewed items, right end 126 is moved to a differentposition that is farther to the right to accommodate the additionalrecently viewed item. When there are five recently viewed items, rightend 126 moves to a third position that is even farther to the right. Inall of these positions, all of the recently viewed items are displayed.

At step 208, the processor waits for the customer to press collapse icon316 of FIG. 3. When the customer selects collapse icon 316, the displayreturns to the state shown in FIG. 1 with the most recently viewed itemshown in collapsed container 102 at step 200.

Transitions from collapsed container 102 to expanded container 302 andfrom expanded container 302 to collapsed container 102 may be shown asan animation. Specifically, during expansion, outer or right side edge126 of collapsed container 102 moves in a horizontal direction 128 overtime to arrive at position 328 (FIG. 3). As edge 126 moves, portions ofimage 318 and text 320 are gradually exposed until the entirety of image318 and 320 can be seen and then portions of image 322 and text 324 aregradually exposed until all of image 322 and text 324 can be seen.During contraction, outer or right side edge 126 of expanded container302 moves in a direction 329 over time to arrive at position 129 (FIG.1). As edge 126 moves, portions of image 322 and text 324 are removeduntil all of image 322 and text 324 have been removed and then portionsof image 318 and text 320 are removed until all of image 318 and text320 have been removed.

During the process of FIG. 2, the customer may select additional itemsto view in detail at any time. When this occurs, a page containing thedetails of the selected item is requested from the server and isrendered on the display. The list of recently viewed items is thenupdated in memory either by the client or by the server. The list ofmost recently viewed items is an ordered list in which the order of anitem within the list indicates when it was viewed relative to the otheritems in the list. After the recently viewed item list is updated, thenew most recently viewed item can be displayed in a collapsed container,such as collapsed container 102, on any desired web page including thepage providing the detailed information about the selected item. Thus,upon selection of an item for viewing, the process of FIG. 2 is reset tostep 200 with a new most recently viewed item.

FIG. 4 shows a graphical image 400 displayed at step 200 after fiveadditional items had been viewed. Display 400 includes the same text 112and text columns 104, 106, 108, 110 and 111 of FIG. 1. In addition,display 400 includes collapsed container 402 which includes “recentlyviewed items” text 114, expansion icon 116, top border 122, and rightside edge 126. Collapsed container 402 has a width 152 and a height 150that is the same as collapsed container 102 of FIG. 1. Collapsedcontainer 402 includes a new image 426 and corresponding text 428. Thisnew image and corresponding text is for the most recently viewed itemand has replaced the image 118 and text 120 shown in FIG. 1.

From the state shown in FIG. 4, when input is received that expand icon116 has been selected at step 202 and the number of recently vieweditems is greater than the maximum number of items that can be viewed ina container at step 204, the process of FIG. 2 continues at step 214where the container is expanded to its maximum size and a carousel ofitems is displayed within the container including at least one carouselcontrol icon.

FIG. 5 provides an example of a generated display 500 having an expandedcontainer 502, also referred to as an expanded window, expandedgraphical element, second-sized displayed container, and enlargedviewed-items element, that includes “recently viewed items” text 114,collapsing icon 516, top border 522, right side edge 126 and numberinglegend 546, which indicates ordinal numbers of the recently viewed itemsthat are displayed in container 502 (1 . . . 7) and the total number ofrecently viewed items (8). Container 502 has a height 550 that is thesame as height 150 of FIG. 1 and a width 552 that is larger than width152 of FIG. 1 and larger than width 352 of FIG. 3.

Within container 502, an image 426 and text 428 of a most recentlyviewed item is shown on the far left of a row of recently viewed items.The row of recently viewed items also includes images 530, 534, 538,542, 118 and 318 and corresponding text 532, 536, 540, 544, 120 and 320of other recently viewed items in the order in which they were viewedwith the more recently viewed items beginning on the left and theearlier viewed items on the far right. Note that image 118 andcorresponding text 120 are now positioned six positions from the leftindicating that image 118 is for an item that is no longer the mostrecently viewed item as it was in FIG. 1 but instead is the sixth mostrecently viewed item. The items associated with images 426, 530, 534,538 and 542 having been viewed after it. Since image 426 andcorresponding text 428 are on the far left, they represent the mostrecently viewed item.

Container 502 also includes a carousel control 548. Carousel control 548is selectable by the user. If the carousel control 548 is selected atstep 216, the images of items in container 502 are shifted to the leftat step 218 such that image 426 and 428 of the most recently viewed itemis removed from container 502 and an older viewed item is added tocontainer 502.

FIG. 6 provides a display 600 showing the results of selecting carouselcontrol icon 548 in FIG. 5. In FIG. 6, container 502 shows differentcontent from container 502 of FIG. 5 in that the image 426 and text 428of the most recently viewed item has been removed and images 530, 534,538, 542, 118 and 318 as well as corresponding text 532, 536, 540, 544,120 and 320 have been shifted to the left. In addition, image 322 andcorresponding text 324 of a recently viewed item has been added to thefar right of the row of items. Further, carousel control 548 has beenremoved and carousel control 650 has been added. Carousel control 548has been removed since there are no earlier viewed items in the orderedlist of recently viewed items. Carousel control 650 has been added sothat upon its selection at step 216, the items displayed will be shiftedto the right at step 218 such that image 322 and corresponding text 324will be removed and such that the most recently viewed item 426 andcorresponding text 428 will be added to the display to return it to thestate shown in FIG. 5. Note that if there were more recently vieweditems, both carousel control 650 and carousel control 548 would bedisplayed in FIG. 6.

Cardinal numbers 646 in container 502 of FIG. 6 have also changed fromcardinal numbers 546 of FIG. 5 to indicate that the items displayed havecardinal number 2-8, thereby indicating that the most recently vieweditem is not currently shown in container 502.

After the items have been shifted at step 218 of FIG. 2, the processreturns to step 216 to determine if a carousel icon, such as carouselicon 650, is selected and to step 220 to determine if the collapse iconhas been pressed. Note that steps 216 and 220 are shown as occurring atdifferent times, however, in an event driven system, steps 216 and 220occur concurrently as the system waits for either a carousel icon or thecollapse icon to be pressed at the same time.

If the collapse icon 516 is pressed at step 220, the process returns tostep 200 to display the most recently viewed item in a collapsedcontainer. Regardless of whether this occurs from either the state ofcontainer 502 shown in FIG. 6 or the state of container 502 shown inFIG. 5, step 200 involves displaying the collapsed container 402 of FIG.4 with image 426 and corresponding text 428 of the most recently vieweditem. Thus, the most recently viewed item is displayed regardless ofwhether the most recently viewed item was being displayed in theexpanded container as shown in FIG. 5 or whether the most recentlyviewed item was not displayed in the expanded container as shown in FIG.6.

In transitioning between collapsed container 402 and expanded container502, an animation is shown under some embodiments. For example, duringthe transition from collapsed container 402 to expanded container 502 ananimation is shown depicting leading edge 126 moving in a direction 570.During the transition from expanded container 502 to collapsed container402, edge 126 moves in a direction 572.

As edge 126 moves during the transition from collapsed container 402 toexpanded container 502, more of the recently viewed items will bedisplayed beginning with the penultimate viewed item represented byimage 530 and corresponding text 532 and progressing through the list ofmost recently viewed items in order. In the transition from expandedcontainer 502 to collapsed container 402, the images and correspondingtext of the displayed items are progressively removed until only theimage and corresponding text of the most recently viewed item isdisplayed. In addition, if the most recently viewed item is notdisplayed in expanded container 502, carousel control 650 is replacedwith the most recently viewed item before, during or after the animatedmovement of edge 126.

In the method shown in FIG. 2, a customer may select any of the itemscurrently displayed in the recently viewed items container at any timein the method. When a recently viewed item is selected from the recentlyviewed items container, a detailed description of the item is presentedto the user. In most embodiments, this involves requesting a new webpage that contains the details of the selected item.

FIG. 7 provides a block diagram of a network environment whichembodiments of the present invention may be practiced. In FIG. 7, acollection of servers 802, 804 and 806 store one or more webpages thatcan be requested by client devices through a network connection 808.Such network connections can include the Internet or other wide areanetworks or an intranet or other local area networks. Client devices caninclude, for example, handheld device 810, desktop 812, tablet 814,laptop 816, gaming device 818 or a wireless device 820. Wireless device820, including such devices as cellular phones, can request webpagesthrough a cellular connection 822 to a wireless carrier 824, which isconnected to the network 808. The client devices listed for FIG. 7 areexamples of available client devices and other client devices that arecapable of connecting through a network 808 to one or more servers 802,804 and 806 can be used with the present invention.

Communication along network 808 can utilize one or more protocolsincluding Hypertext Transfer Protocol (http), Transmission ControlProtocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) and the like. The web pages providedby servers 802, 804 and 806 may be written in a mark-up language such asHypertext Markup Language (HTML) or Extensible Markup Language (XML) andmay utilize one or more Cascade Style Sheets. In addition, the web pagesprovided by servers 802, 804 and 806 may use one or more scripts forrendering the page including for example JavaScript®, from OracleCorporation.

An example of a computing device that can be used as a server and/orclient device in the various embodiments is shown in the block diagramof FIG. 8. The computing device 10 of FIG. 8 includes a processing unitor processor 12, a system memory 14 and a system bus 16 that couples thesystem memory 14 to the processing unit 12. System memory 14 includesread only memory (ROM) 18 and random access memory (RAM) 20. A basicinput/output system 22 (BIOS), containing the basic routines that helpto transfer information between elements within the computing device 10,is stored in ROM 18. Computer-executable instructions that are to beexecuted by processing unit 12 may be stored in random access memory 20before being executed.

Embodiments of the present invention can be applied in the context ofcomputer systems other than computing device 10. Other appropriatecomputer systems include handheld devices, multi-processor systems,various consumer electronic devices, mainframe computers, and the like.Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that embodiments can alsobe applied within computer systems wherein tasks are performed by remoteprocessing devices that are linked through a communications network(e.g., communication utilizing Internet or web-based software systems).For example, program modules may be located in either local or remotememory storage devices or simultaneously in both local and remote memorystorage devices. Similarly, any storage of data associated withembodiments of the present invention may be accomplished utilizingeither local or remote storage devices, or simultaneously utilizing bothlocal and remote storage devices.

Computing device 10 further includes a hard disc drive 24, an externalmemory device 28, and an optical disc drive 30. External memory device28 can include an external disc drive or solid state memory that may beattached to computing device 10 through an interface such as UniversalSerial Bus interface 34, which is connected to system bus 16. Opticaldisc drive 30 can illustratively be utilized for reading data from (orwriting data to) optical media, such as a CD-ROM disc 32. Hard discdrive 24 and optical disc drive 30 are connected to the system bus 16 bya hard disc drive interface 32 and an optical disc drive interface 36,respectively. The drives and external memory devices and theirassociated computer-readable media provide nonvolatile storage media forthe computing device 10 on which computer-executable instructions andcomputer-readable data structures may be stored. Other types of mediathat are readable by a computer may also be used in the exemplaryoperation environment.

A number of program modules may be stored in the drives and RAM 20,including an operating system 38, one or more application programs 40,other program modules 42 and program data 44. In particular, applicationprograms 40 can include server instructions that handle requests for webpages from a client, retrieve the content of the web pages and serve theweb pages to the client when the computing device is used as a server.When the computing device is used as a client, application programs 40can include a web browser that receives, interprets and renders one ormore of the web pages described above. Such web browsers include scriptinterpreters that are able to interpret script code in the web pagesincluding script code that performs the steps of FIG. 2. The combinationof the web browser and any script code in the web page can be consideredcomputer-executable instructions that are stored on a computer-storagemedium for execution by a processor. Program data 44 may include imagesand text that form one or more of the web pages including images of theproduct, images of one or more of the buttons, and the text in thecontainers. In addition, program data 44 can include the count of thenumber of items that have been recently viewed and the recently vieweditems list.

Input devices including a keyboard 63 and a mouse 65 are connected tosystem bus 16 through an Input/Output interface 46 that is coupled tosystem bus 16. Monitor 48 is connected to the system bus 16 through avideo adapter 50 and provides graphical images to users. Otherperipheral output devices (e.g., speakers or printers) could also beincluded but have not been illustrated. In accordance with someembodiments, monitor 48 comprises a touch screen that both displaysinput and provides locations on the screen where the user is contactingthe screen.

The computing device 10 may operate in a network environment utilizingconnections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computer52. The remote computer 52 may be a server, a router, a peer device, orother common network node. Remote computer 52 may include many or all ofthe features and elements described in relation to computing device 10,although only a memory storage device 54 has been illustrated in FIG. 8.The network connections depicted in FIG. 8 include a local area network(LAN) 56 and a wide area network (WAN) 58. Such network environments arecommonplace in the art.

The computing device 10 is connected to the LAN 56 through a networkinterface 60. The computing device 10 is also connected to WAN 58 andincludes a modem 62 for establishing communications over the WAN 58. Themodem 62, which may be internal or external, is connected to the systembus 16 via the I/O interface 46.

In a networked environment, program modules depicted relative to thecomputing device 10, or portions thereof, may be stored in the remotememory storage device 54. For example, application programs may bestored utilizing memory storage device 54. In addition, data associatedwith an application program, such as data stored in the databases orlists described above, may illustratively be stored within memorystorage device 54. It will be appreciated that the network connectionsshown in FIG. 8 are exemplary and other means for establishing acommunications link between the computers, such as a wireless interfacecommunications link, may be used.

Processor/processing unit 12 executes computer-executable instructionsto perform the steps described above. In particular, the processordisplays a most recently viewed item in a display element and positionsthe display element next to at least one other element on a web page.The processor expands the display element so that the element covers theat least one other element on the web page and so that at least oneother recently viewed item appears in the display element. The processorcontracts the display element so that only the most recently viewed itemappears in the display element and so that the at least one otherelement on the web page is visible.

To expand the display element, the processor moves one end of thedisplay element to a first position to view a first number of recentlyviewed items and to a second position to view a second number ofrecently viewed items. The processor further moves the end of thedisplay element to a third position and displays carousel controlswithin the display element.

The processor further receives an input indicating that the carouselcontrol has been selected and in response removes the most recentlyviewed item from the display element. The processor then receives aninput indicating that the display element should be contracted. Inresponse, the processor contracts the display element so that only themost recently viewed item appears in the display element.

Although elements have been shown or described as separate embodimentsabove, portions of each embodiment may be combined with all or part ofother embodiments described above.

Although the subject matter has been described in language specific tostructural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understoodthat the subject matter defined in the appended claims is notnecessarily limited to the specific features or acts described above.Rather, the specific features and acts described above are disclosed asexample forms of implementing the claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A computer storage medium having computerexecutable instructions that when executed by a processor cause theprocessor to perform steps comprising: displaying a most recently vieweditem in a display element, the display element positioned next to atleast one other element on a web page; expanding the display element sothat the element covers the at least one other element on the web pageand so that at least one other recently viewed item appears in thedisplay element; contracting the display element so that only the mostrecently viewed item appears in the display element and so that the atleast one other element on the web page is visible.
 2. The computerstorage medium of claim 1 wherein expanding the display elementcomprises moving one end of the display element to a first position inorder to view a first number of recently viewed items and moving the endof the display element to a second position in order to view a secondnumber of recently viewed items.
 3. The computer storage medium of claim2 wherein expanding the display element to the first position comprisesmoving the end to a position that allows all recently viewed items to bedisplayed and wherein expanding the display element to the secondposition comprises moving the end to a position that allows all recentlyviewed items to be displayed.
 4. The computer storage medium of claim 1wherein a recently viewed item comprises an item that has been viewed inmore detail than other items.
 5. The computer storage medium of claim 2further comprising moving the end to a third position and displayingcarousel controls in the display element.
 6. The computer storage mediumof claim 5 further comprising: receiving an input indicating that a userhas selected a carousel control; in response to the received input,removing the most recently viewed item from the display element;receiving an input indicating that the display element should becontracted; and contracting the display element so that only the mostrecently viewed item appears in the display element.
 7. The computerstorage medium of claim 1 wherein expanding the display elementcomprises moving one end of the display element horizontally.
 8. Acomputing system comprising: a memory storing images of at least a lastviewed item and a penultimate viewed item; a processor: generating agraphical viewed-items element, wherein the image of the last vieweditem is within the viewed-items element; receiving an input to enlargethe viewed-items element; and in response to the input, generating agraphical enlarged viewed-items element, wherein the image of the lastviewed item and the image of the penultimate viewed item are within theenlarged viewed-items element; and a display that displays theviewed-items element and that later displays the enlarged viewed-itemselement generated by the processor.
 9. The computing system of claim 8wherein receiving an input to enlarge the viewed items element comprisesreceiving an indication that a user has selected an icon within theviewed-items element.
 10. The computing system of claim 8 whereingenerating an enlarged viewed-items element comprises generating anenlarged viewed-items element such that at least one carousel control iswithin the enlarged viewed items element.
 11. The computing system ofclaim 10 wherein the processor further: receives input indicating aselection of a carousel input; generates an image of the enlargedviewed-items element wherein the last viewed item is not within theenlarged viewed-items element; receives further input indicating thatthe enlarged viewed-items element should be collapsed while the lastviewed item is not within the enlarged viewed-items element; and inresponse to the further input, generates an image of the viewed-itemselement with the image of the last viewed item within the viewed-itemselement.
 12. The computing system of claim 8 wherein the last vieweditem and the penultimate viewed item are selected to be displayed withinthe enlarged viewed-items element in response to the last viewed itemand the penultimate viewed item having been viewed in more detail thanother items available to be viewed.
 13. The computing system of claim 8wherein the processor further generates an animation showing atransition between the viewed-items element and the enlargedviewed-items element.
 14. The computing system of claim 13 whereinduring the animation, the image of the penultimate item is revealed overtime.
 15. A method comprising: displaying a plurality of recently viewedproducts in a first-sized displayed container using a processor and adisplay; receiving input indicating that the first-sized displayedcontainer should be collapsed; and in response to the input,automatically reducing the size of the container to form a collapsedcontainer so that only a most recently viewed product appears in thecollapsed container.
 16. The method of claim 15 further comprisingdisplaying at least one control for a carousel in the first-sizeddisplayed container.
 17. The method of claim 16 further comprising,before receiving the input indicating that the container should becollapsed, receiving an input indicating selection of the at least onecontrol for the carousel and in response to the input, removing the mostrecently viewed product from the first-sized displayed container. 18.The method of claim 15 further comprising: receiving input that a userwishes to view an additional product; and replacing the most recentlyviewed product with the additional product in the collapsed container.19. The method of claim 18 further comprising: receiving an input toenlarge the collapsed container; and in response to the input, enlargingthe collapsed container so that it becomes a second-sized displayedcontainer that displays a plurality of products including the additionalproduct, the second-sized displayed container being larger than thefirst-sized displayed container.
 20. The method of claim 19 whereinreceiving input indicating that the first-sized displayed containershould be collapsed comprises receiving an indication that an iconattached to the first-sized displayed container has been selected.